The Best Bird Watching Destinations from the Riviera Maya
Compared to USA and Hawaii, Mexico has more bird species and it has double the amount of bird species found in Canada. One of the best Bird Watching spots in Mexico is the Yucatan Peninsula. You can find 548 various species which includes 11 endemic varieties; during winter one finds even more species because migratory birds go to the warm region. The Yucatan provides great Bird Watching year round because of its subtropical location. Famous birding sites close to the Riviera Maya are:
• Sian Kaan Reserve
• Cozumel Island
• Rio Lagartos Biosphere Reserve
• Botanical Garden Dr. Alfredo Barrera Marin
• Coba Ruins
• Punta Laguna
You can visit all these bird watching sites in one day tours from the Riviera Maya. The Riviera Maya is a very good birder destination because it enables the visitor to appreciate its tourist infrastructure and comfy hotels while going out on day trips to specific birding sites. One can also opt to stay in non-urban areas with less comfort yet a lot more birds!
Here is a brief introduction to these six Bird Watching Destinations that can be visited from the Mayan Riviera:
Sian Ka'an
Sian Ka'an Biosphere is surely well worth a visit by birdwatchers as 345 species of birds can be found in the site. Because of the excellent diversity of aquatic habitats, marine and wading birds are well available. The species found here represent 33% of all species determined for the whole country of Mexico and 67% of those documented for the Yucatan Peninsula. Two-thirds of its species reproduce within the reserve.
Cozumel Island
Only 5 to 10% of this lovely island has been improved which leaves lots of habitats for exotic bird species. Cozumel -which indicates island of swallows – has subtropical forests, mangroves and dune vegetation. 214 Species of birds have been listed of which 71% are residents and 29% are migratory birds. On the list of most typical species we find: herons and egrets, Magnificent Frigate bird, Black and Turkey Vultures, Osprey, American and Brown Pelican, parrots, fishing eagle, sea swallows and tanagers. Special attention endemic species are the Cozumel Thrasher, the Cozumel Vireo, the Cozumel Wren, the Cozumel Great Curassow, that is extremely endangered and the Cozumel Emerald - a species of hummingbird in the Trochilidae family.
Rio Lagartos Biosphere Reserve
One of the most considered bird site for bird watching is Rio Lagartos having a total of 72 migratory and 141 resident species. The reserve protects an area covering around 120,000 acres of protected land, made up of mangrove forest, coastal dune vegetation, low deciduous forest, savannas and hummocks. The reserve is well-known for its significant groups of Greater Flamingoes as the area is an essential nesting site for this species. Birding tours are often done by boat although trials are also available.
Botanical Garden Dr. Alfredo Barrera Marin
The 150-acre Yaax Che Jardín Botánico del Dr. Alfredo Barrera Marín is the biggest botanical garden in Mexico. It can be found in Puerto Morelos. A nature walk goes straight through the mangroves for some excellent birding. There are more than 220 species of birds identified here and there is a tree house in the garden which serves as a lookout for even better bird watching experience.
Coba Ruins
The ruins in Coba is well worth a visit in itself; this is the only Mayan ruins dating back to the Classical period in Quintana Roo. The site has temples, pyramids and structures that are built wide apart with a park having immense dimensions, huge forest which is excellent for bird watching. The site was constructed next to a lagoon and therefore yields habitats for both terrestrial and aquatic bird life.
Punta Laguna
Punta Laguna is a little Mayan village whereby roosters and pigs have the right of way and the smoke from women preparing tortillas over an open fire filters through the thatched roofs of their houses. Together with some 4 other villages, Punta Laguna is part of a 5,000 hectare, government-protected nature reserve known as Ma'ax Yetel Kooh. Along with the distinctive subspecies of spider monkey that inhabits the region, the protected area is also home to howler monkeys, pumas, coatis and a huge diversity of birds.
To be accompanied by a local guide who has been trained to identify birds with their English names is the best way to enjoy your birding and natural history experience. This allows you to check out destinations you never would have discovered on your own.
• Sian Kaan Reserve
• Cozumel Island
• Rio Lagartos Biosphere Reserve
• Botanical Garden Dr. Alfredo Barrera Marin
• Coba Ruins
• Punta Laguna
You can visit all these bird watching sites in one day tours from the Riviera Maya. The Riviera Maya is a very good birder destination because it enables the visitor to appreciate its tourist infrastructure and comfy hotels while going out on day trips to specific birding sites. One can also opt to stay in non-urban areas with less comfort yet a lot more birds!
Here is a brief introduction to these six Bird Watching Destinations that can be visited from the Mayan Riviera:
Sian Ka'an
Sian Ka'an Biosphere is surely well worth a visit by birdwatchers as 345 species of birds can be found in the site. Because of the excellent diversity of aquatic habitats, marine and wading birds are well available. The species found here represent 33% of all species determined for the whole country of Mexico and 67% of those documented for the Yucatan Peninsula. Two-thirds of its species reproduce within the reserve.
Cozumel Island
Only 5 to 10% of this lovely island has been improved which leaves lots of habitats for exotic bird species. Cozumel -which indicates island of swallows – has subtropical forests, mangroves and dune vegetation. 214 Species of birds have been listed of which 71% are residents and 29% are migratory birds. On the list of most typical species we find: herons and egrets, Magnificent Frigate bird, Black and Turkey Vultures, Osprey, American and Brown Pelican, parrots, fishing eagle, sea swallows and tanagers. Special attention endemic species are the Cozumel Thrasher, the Cozumel Vireo, the Cozumel Wren, the Cozumel Great Curassow, that is extremely endangered and the Cozumel Emerald - a species of hummingbird in the Trochilidae family.
Rio Lagartos Biosphere Reserve
One of the most considered bird site for bird watching is Rio Lagartos having a total of 72 migratory and 141 resident species. The reserve protects an area covering around 120,000 acres of protected land, made up of mangrove forest, coastal dune vegetation, low deciduous forest, savannas and hummocks. The reserve is well-known for its significant groups of Greater Flamingoes as the area is an essential nesting site for this species. Birding tours are often done by boat although trials are also available.
Botanical Garden Dr. Alfredo Barrera Marin
The 150-acre Yaax Che Jardín Botánico del Dr. Alfredo Barrera Marín is the biggest botanical garden in Mexico. It can be found in Puerto Morelos. A nature walk goes straight through the mangroves for some excellent birding. There are more than 220 species of birds identified here and there is a tree house in the garden which serves as a lookout for even better bird watching experience.
Coba Ruins
The ruins in Coba is well worth a visit in itself; this is the only Mayan ruins dating back to the Classical period in Quintana Roo. The site has temples, pyramids and structures that are built wide apart with a park having immense dimensions, huge forest which is excellent for bird watching. The site was constructed next to a lagoon and therefore yields habitats for both terrestrial and aquatic bird life.
Punta Laguna
Punta Laguna is a little Mayan village whereby roosters and pigs have the right of way and the smoke from women preparing tortillas over an open fire filters through the thatched roofs of their houses. Together with some 4 other villages, Punta Laguna is part of a 5,000 hectare, government-protected nature reserve known as Ma'ax Yetel Kooh. Along with the distinctive subspecies of spider monkey that inhabits the region, the protected area is also home to howler monkeys, pumas, coatis and a huge diversity of birds.
To be accompanied by a local guide who has been trained to identify birds with their English names is the best way to enjoy your birding and natural history experience. This allows you to check out destinations you never would have discovered on your own.
